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"Unfortunately, Mr Wiggin, that is classified information But I can say that none of our boys who h the first year has ever failed to receive a commission as an officer And none has retired from a position of lower rank than chief executive officer of an interplanetary vessel Even in the domestic defense forces within our own solar system, there's honor to be had"

"How h the first year?" asked Ender

"All ant to," said Graff

Ender alue This would keep him out of school, but that was stupid, that was just a problem for a few days It would keep hiht be a matter of life itself But to leave Mother and Father, and above all, to leave Valentine And beco He didn't like Peter's kind, the strong against the weak, and he didn't like his own kind either, the sainst the stupid

"I think," Graff said, "that Ender and I should have a private conversation"

"No," Father said

"I won't take hiain," Graff said "And you really can't

stop me"

Father glared at Graff a ot up and left the room Mother paused to squeeze Ender's hand She closed the door behind her when she left

"Ender," Graff said, "if you co time There aren't any vacations from Battle School No visitors, either A full course of training lasts until you're sixteen years old--you get your first leave, under certain circue in six years, in ten years Your sister Valentine will be a woain, if you coers You'll still love her, Ender, but you won't know her You see I' it's easy"

"Mom and Daddy?"

"I know you, Ender I've been watching the monitor disks for some time You won'tAnd they won't , either"

Tears came to Ender's eyes, in spite of himself He turned his face away, but would not reach up to wipe them

"They do love you, Ender But you have to understand what your life has cost theious, you know Your father was baptized with the name John Paul Wieczorek Catholic The seventh of nine children"

Nine children That was unthinkable Criminal